Obamacare: Congress looks to exempt themselves and their aides from the healthcare exchanges
This story is a couple of days old but I didn’t have a chance to write about it yesterday because my son and I went to the Bruins game last night to celebrate his 18th birthday. Every once in awhile a small break is needed in order for me to keep my sanity and last night was one such example, but this story needs to be written about so here we go.
Politico reported yesterday that Harry Reid, John Boenher, and other leaders in both parties were engaged in discussions to exempt lawmakers and their aides from the healthcare exchanges which are being setup in Obamacare because they are too expensive:
Congressional leaders in both parties are engaged in high-level, confidential talks about exempting lawmakers and Capitol Hill aides from the insurance exchanges they are mandated to join as part of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul, sources in both parties said.
The talks — which involve Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), the Obama administration and other top lawmakers — are extraordinarily sensitive, with both sides acutely aware of the potential for political fallout from giving carve-outs from the hugely controversial law to 535 lawmakers and thousands of their aides. Discussions have stretched out for months, sources said.
The problem stems from whether members and aides set to enter the exchanges would have their health insurance premiums subsidized by their employer — in this case, the federal government. If not, aides and lawmakers in both parties fear that staffers — especially low-paid junior aides — could be hit with thousands of dollars in new health care costs, prompting them to seek jobs elsewhere
Since this story first broke we have learned that the Senate is pushing back against this:
Republican senators pushed back on the idea that Congress ought to receive an exemption from the health-care exchanges required under Obamacare, after Politico reported Thursday that leaders from both parties had been involved in negotiations to do just that for aides and lawmakers.
Now that this story has seen the light of day I don’t think there is any way people like Harry Reid and John Boehner will be able to get away with this but it still sheds a light upon the mentality of the ruling class in this country. When push comes to shove their first reaction is to move to protect themselves from the policies which they passed in the first place while leaving the plebeians to fend for themselves and that is precisely what is wrong with Washington today.
So what are Americans to do when both major parties in Washington are only interested in doing what is best for them while neglecting the needs of the American people?
The only thing that can be done is to look for a new viable option: The New Federalist Party has a plank in their platform which states that all lawmakers must live under the rules and the laws which they pass. It is time for Americans to take a good, hard look at the New Federalist Party and stop blindly following both the Republicans and the Democrats.
America's Watchtower 
Ain’t that just peachy? They create a monstrosity of a law that forces all manner of rules and regulations on Americans and then they want to exempt themselves and those they work with.
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So frustrating Larry, now that they know this is going to be a disaster they are looking to protect themselves when they should be looking at fixing the problem for everyone.
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It makes sense that the republicans in the senate would balk at this idea since they would be taken to task by their constituents. The democrats, on the other hand, if history is an indicator, would most likely not have to answer for their part in this unspeakable self interest move. If there was accountability on their part then people such as Charlie Rangle, D-NY, rather than yucking it up with Don Imus, would be languishing in disgrace in one of his illegally held rent controlled apartments in Harlem. Look at a scoundrel like Marion Berry who is held in such high esteem by his voting public. The list of reprobates on the left side of the aisle who have never had to answer to their supporters for their inexcusable legislation and corruption, goes on and on. The one exception that comes to mind is Anthony Weiner, D-NY. If he wa buff instead of fluff in his bare chested on line photos he would be the next mayor of New York City.
The granddaddy of them all, Ted Kennedy, must be having a good laugh from whatever level of hell he occupies.
For now the republicans will have to rely on the likes of John McCain and Lindsey Graham along with stealth flip floppers like Eric Cantor and others to figure out a way for their side to get a pass from the voters should the republicans sign on to this waiver outrage.
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Yeah, we seem to hold our elected officials to higher standards while the Democrats seem to be able to get away with this type of bullshit all the time, it certainly is frustrating!
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“…especially low-paid junior aides — could be hit with thousands of dollars in new health care costs, prompting them to seek jobs elsewhere”
Some day the SOB are going to have to admit that ObamaCare is the biggest middle-class tax hike to ever come along.
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You would thin so Jim, but I am not sure about that. The Democrats are able to get away with this because the MSM is in their corner and they are able to paint the Republicans as the party which is not for the middle class at the same time as they raise taxes on the workers.
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Reblogged this on Freedom Is Just Another Word….
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Thank you!
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I read this recently and was incensed. When I studied and researched it further, though, I realized it is nothing more than a poorly reported story. All Americans must join the exchanges, but those who currently have their employers pay part of their premiums will continue to enjoy that subsidization. Because of the way this particular amendment is written, there’s a question whether the subsidization of the premiums paid by members of Congress and their staffs will continue.
Here;s a more thorough discussion of the situation: http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2013/04/25/is-congress-really-attempting-a-last-minute-end-run-to-exempt-itself-from-obamacare/.
Take good care, and may God bless us all!
TGY
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That is all very well and good for those Americans who still have employers but what about those who do not and cannot afford to purchase healthcare?
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Medicaid
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Great, more government dependence, perfect. But what about those whose employers decide to drop healthcare coverage as a benefit? It sounds like they would be in a similar position to the aides.
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But that’s not the point of your post, which was that Congress is trying to exempt itself from PPACA, which isn’t the case. The leasers of both parties are trying to address a problem caused by the sloppy wording of a clause that was created to score political points.
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I wrote the post about the government trying to protect themselves and their aides from the healthcare exchanges, you then stated that they were trying to fix a problem with the subsidies and I provided an example where the private sector might have the same problem. I don’t see how that isn’t relevant to the topic.
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I showed that your exposition of the topic – Congress’ supposed attempts to exempt itself from PPACA – was inaccurate. I don’t blame you for trying to change the topic, or suggesting that in fact you’re addressing the reason for which they’re taking the action you’re decrying. That’s a different discussion, though. This discussion is about your spurious claim that Congress is trying to evade PPACA.
Of course, it’s your blog, and if you wanted to discuss craven employers trying to evade their responsibilities by throwing their workforces onto part-time payrolls, or dropping their workforces below 50 people, that’s make sense as well.
Take good care and may God bless us all!
TGY
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I have to wonder, if they think it’s bad for them in the first place, why pass it to force it on everyone else?
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They really only care about themselves and not about anything else.
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